Dispensing carton



April 24, 1934. l w H JACKSON 1,956,238

DI SPENS ING CARTON Filed Oct. 16, 1933 INVENToR. W/'LL/AMVH, JAC/fs o/v A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 16,

14 Claims.

This invention has general reference to paper board cartons or boxes of the type `which are usually employed for. packaging various kinds of .granulated or naked substances, such as sugar.

Cereals, soaps in powder, iiake or granule form or similar materials, and which containers are generally cut and formed from a single sheet of stock.

The invention resides more particularly in the forming of the Walls of such containers so that without the necessity of using a knife or other implement, or requiring any particularly careful or skillful operations, a discharge opening for dispensing the contents thereof can be readily H5 produced by the consumer, the arrangement also being of such a nature that the possibility of tearing or otherwise mutilating the package is avoided, While means is provided for reclosing the dispensing opening after each dispensing operation, so as to eliminate spilling of the contents and to aord protection therefor.

The invention also provides an improved form of contents-dispensing means for cartons, which is so constructed and arranged as to permit of the production thereof without necessitating any unusual operations and by virtue of which the automatic lling and closing of the carton and the interengagement of the elements of the dispensing means can be eected without necessitating complicated or expensive changes in the machinery which has heretofore been employed for this purpose.

The invention further provides a dispensing means of the indicated character which is extremely simple and not complicated in its construction, which does not require any increase in the amount of stock over and above that which is now used in the production of the carton and which means does not materially add to the cost l0 of production thereof.

With the above enumerated and other objects and advantages in mind, some of which are hereinafter set forth, in more detail, reference is now made to the following specification and ac- 4 companying drawing in which there is set forth,

by way of example, several preferred embodiments of the invention, while the appendedclaims cover variations and modifications thereof which properly fall within the range and scope of the invention.

ln the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view 'of the upper portion of a carton or box equipped with one form of dispensing arrangement made up in accordisis, serial No. 693,725

ance with the present invention and illustrating the same in closed condition.

vFig. 2 is a similar View illustrating the dispensing means in opened condition to provide a discharge opening for dispensing the contents.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view taken on a plane indicated at the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the upper portion of the blank from which the carton is formed, the same being shown on a. slightly reduced scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective Viewof a modiication.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, 10 and 11 designate the front and rear Walls of the carton, and 12 and 13 the opposite side walls thereof, all of which walls are considered and are hereinafter referred to as the vertical walls inasmuch as they are disposed in a vertical plane when the package is in its normally upright position. Assuming that the carton is, as shown, of the type which is cut and formed from a single sheet of stock, it is provided with the customary side liap 14 which is carried by the free Vertical side edge of either the front or rear Wall, in the present instance, being shown as carried by and formed integral Withthe rear Wall ll. The side ap le is designed to underlie and is adhesively connected with the other of said Walls adjacent its free vertical side edge. As is common in this type of box or carton, the vertical walls 10 and 1l are provided with integral top or cover naps l5 and 16 adapted to overlap each other, While the side Walls 12 and 13 are provided with inwardly bent integral top iiaps 17 and 18. which underlie the front and rear wall top flaps.

The dispensing means or arrangement which constitutes the present invention, includes a substantially continuous slit 20 which, as shown. is of substantially arcuate formation With the opposite ends 21 thereof terminating at the juncture of the vertical side Wall 12 with its top ap 17, or at laterally spaced points along the fold line 22 which defines the juncture or said Wall and flap. In setting forth that the slit 20 is substantially continuous, it is desired to bring out that, if desired, the slit may, as shown, be interrupted intermediate its ends by relatively short unslitted portion 23 which may be readily broken by the consumer upon exerting a slight pressure on the portion 24 of the Wall which is defined by the slit 20 and the fold line 22 and which Will hereinafter be also referred to as a tab which closes the dispensing opening O which is left by the tab when swung out of the plane of the vertical side wall 12.

The dispensing means also embodies a covering ap 25 which is made as an integral extension of the uppermost rear wall top ap 16, the same being of a width equal to the width of the flap 16 and of a length corresponding to the length of the side ap 14 so as to avoid the necessity of requiring any additional material by utilizing a part of the stock which is ordinarily wasted. As shown, the extension or ilap 25 has a convex arcuate edge 26, although it is to be understood that the shape of the edge 26 and the slit 20 is unimportant and that the invention is not restricted to such shaping. The extension or flap 25 is bent downwardly in a plane at a right-angle to the rear wall top flap 16 and is designed to cover and conceal the tab 24.

While the extension or flap 25 may be secured in at contact with the vertical side wall 12 in any desired manner, in the form disclosed in Figs. l to 5, a retaining tongue 27 is utilized for the purpose which, as illustrated, is producedl by forming the vertical side wall 12 with .a reversely curved slit 28 located below the slit 20 and in such a position that the medial free edge of the extension or flap 25 is engaged under the tongue 27. It should be noted at this point, that the engagement of the extension or ap 25 behind the vtongue 27 is accomplished simultaneously with the folding down and adhesive securement of the lower face of the top flap 16 with the underlying top Aflap 15 so that no distortion or bending of the extension or ap 25 is required during the initial closing operation and nishing of the upper end of the package or carton. In practice, it has been found that the dispensing arrangement effectually seals the region of the package in which it is located against any loss of the contents and so that it will withstand the ordinary handling to which the package is subjected.

In order to facilitate the disengagement of the extension or ap 25 from the tongue 27, by the consumer, so as to avoid tearing of the tongue 27 or tearing or mutilation of the extension 2 5, the said extension or flap is formed with a transverse score line 29 parallel to the fold line 30 which defines the juncture between the extension and top flap 16. This score line causes the flap 25 to break or bend, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the portion lying between the score and the fold line 30 in eiect functions as a link L so that the free end of the ap 25 engaged behind the tongue 27 is withdrawn therefrom in a plane substantially coinciding with the plane of the tongue 27. This construction and arrangement also facilitates the reengagement of the flap 25 with the tongue 27 when the consumer recloses the dispensing opening.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the extension or ap 25 is initially adhesively secured down by an adhesive shown at H which is applied in parallel bands along the undersurface of the opposite edges of the top nap 16 and laterally spaced portions of the extension or flap 25 so that the areas of the flap 25, which adhere to the vertical side wall 12, lie beyond the tab ,24. In this form, the ap 25 is not initially engaged behind the tongue 27 but the tongue may be later utilized for holding the flap 25 down when reclosing the dispensing opening.

In use, after the ap 25 has been disengaged, it is swung upwardly to substantially 1511 position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 and the portion or tab 24 is swung outwardly to denne the discharge opening O for dispensing the contents. After the desired quantity has been dispensed, the consumer has only to press the tab 24 so that it again occupies a plane coinciding with the plane of the side wall 12 and lying within the dispensing opening where the frictional engagement of the edge of the tab with the edge of the opening will hold the tab in closed relation to the opening. The user, as a safeguard, may re-engage the flap 25 with the tongue 27, if desired.l

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that an improved dispensing means or arrangement for cartons of the indicated character has been devised which electually accomplishes its purpose without materially adding to the expense of production of the carton.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top aps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the junctureof said wall with its top ap to provide, by the portion of the wall dened by the slit, a tab, which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top ap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion.

2. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top flaps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said Wall with its top flap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab, which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top flap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion, and means for removably holding said extension in covering relation to the slitted portion so as to retain the tab within the dispensing opening.

3. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top aps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its top ap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab, which,

When displaced, leaves-av discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral eX- tension of the top flap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion, and means formed on the rstmentioned vertical wall for holding said extension in covering relation to the slitted portion so as to retain the tab within the dispensing opening.

4. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top aps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its top ap to provide, by the portion of the wall dened by the slit, a tab, which,

when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top flap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted A a portion of the edge of the extension engages.

5. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top ilaps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous arcuate slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its top nap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab, which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top flap ot the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion.

6. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top aps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous arcuate slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its top nap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab, which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top flap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion, and means formed on the firstmentioned vertical wall for holding said extension in covering relation to the slitted portion so as to retain the tab within the dispensing opening, said means consisting of a reversely curved arcuate slitted portion of the ilrst-mentioned Vertical wall so locatedgthereon that the medial portion of the edge of the extension engages therebehind. l.

7. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top flaps, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its top flap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab, which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an integral extension of the top ap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion, and means formed on the first-mentioned vertical wall for holding saidv extension in covering relation to the slitted portion so as tou re- .tain the tab within'the dispensing opening, said means consisting of a slitted portion of said frst-znentioned-vertical wall Within which a portion of the edge of the extension engages, said extension having a transverse score' line defining a portion lying betweensaid score line and the juncture of the extension with its top flap, which portion of the extension serves as a link to facilitate the disengagement of the extension from the second-mentioned slitted portion and the reengagement of the same therewith.

8. A carton, including adjacent angularly related walls, each having an angularly disposed flap, which iiaps overlap each other and are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said walls, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its ap to provide, by the portion of the wall defined by the slit, a tab which when displaced, leaves a dispensing opening, and an integral extension on the flap of vthe other adjacent wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion of the mst-mentioned wall.

`9. A carton, including adjacent angularly related walls, each having an angularly disposed flap, which flaps overlap each other and are disposed in a Aplane perpendicular to the plane of said walls, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the lopposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its so as toretain lthe tab within the dispensing opening.

10. A carton, including adjacent angularly related walls, each having an angularly disposed ap, which flaps overlap each other and are disposed in a plane perpendicular to theplane of said walls, one of said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its iiap to provide, by the portion of the wall dened by the slit, a tab, which when displaced, leaves a dispensing opening. and an integral extension on the flap of the other adjacent wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion of the first-l mentioned wall, and means for holding said extension in covering relation to said slitted portion so as to retain the tab within the dispensing opening, said extension having a transverse score deflning a portion lying between said score and the juncture of the extension with its flap, which portion serves as a link to facilitate the dlsengagement of the extension from said holding i means and the re-engagement of the same therewith.

related walls, each having an angularly disposed iiap, which naps overlap each other and are disposed in a plane perpendicular to .the plane of said 11. A Icarton, including adjacent angularlyy walls, one of said adjacent walls having a con-v tinuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its ilap to provide, by the portion of the wall dened by the slit, a tab, which when displaced, leaves'a dispensing opening, an integral extension on the nap of the other adjacent wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion of the first-menf tioned Wall, and adhesive connection between the extension and the slitted wall for removably holding said extension in covering relation to the slitted portion thereofand for retaining the tab within the dispensing opening.

12. A carton, including adjacent angularly related walls', each having an angularly disposed ilap, which flaps overlap each other and are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said walls, one oi said adjacent walls having a continuous slit, the opposite ends of which slit terminate at the juncture of said wall with its ilap to provide, by the portion of the wall dened by the slit, a tab, which when displaced, leaves a dispensing opening, an integral extension on theflap of the other adjacent wall adapted to cover and conceal the slitted portion of ther first mentioned wall, and adhesive connection between the extension andthe slitted wall at laterally spaced portions thereof, and on opposite sides of the slitted portion of said wall so as to removably hold the extension in covering relation to the slitted portion of said wall and to retain the tab within the dispensing opening.

13. A carton, including adjacent vertical walls having superposed top ilaps, one of said adjacent walls having in proximity to the upper end thereof, a slittedportion so shaped as to provide, by the portion of the. wall defined by the slit, a tab which, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an exwhich, when displaced, leaves a discharge opening for dispensing the contents, and an extension of the top fiap of the other adjacent vertical wall adapted to cover and conceal said slitted portion, and means for removably holding said extension in covering relation to the slitted portion so as to retain the tab Within the dispensing opening.

WILLIAM H. JACKSON. 

